[839] For Burr's cipher dispatch see Appendix D.
[840] Annals, 10th Cong. 1st sess. 424-28 and see McCaleb, 77.
Professor McCaleb evidently doubts the disinterestedness of Morgan and his sons. He shows that they had been in questionable land transactions and, at this moment, were asking Congress to grant them a doubtful land claim. (See McCaleb, footnote to 77.)
[841] Testimony of Morgan's son, Annals, 10th Cong. 1st Sess. 424.
[842] "Colonel Burr, on this occasion as on others, comported himself precisely as a man having 'treasonable' designs would not comport himself, unless he were mad or intoxicated." (Parton: Burr, 415.) Professor McCaleb's analysis of the Morgan incident is thorough and convincing. (See McCaleb, 76-78.)
[843] Nevill and Roberts to Jefferson, Oct. 7, 1806, "Letters in Relation to Burr Conspiracy," MSS. Lib. Cong. This important letter set out that "to give a correct written statement of those [Burr's] conversations [with the Morgans] ... would be difficult ... and indeed, according to our informant, much more was to be collected, from the manner in which certain things were said, and hints given than from words used."
[844] McCaleb, 78-79; Parton: Burr, 411.
[845] McCaleb, 83-84; Parton: Burr, 412-13.
At this time Burr also wrote to William Wilkins and B. H. Latrobe calling their attention to his Bastrop speculation. (Miscellaneous MSS. N.Y. Pub. Lib.)
[846] See testimony of Dudley Woodbridge, infra, 489.